I just got a set of D&D pipes from Trumpy(thanks Mark), and they're on par or maybe even slightly louder than the Epcos I used to have on my bike. Being something of a pipe monger, I've also had Speedmaster short off-roads, Sceptres, drilled out stock Speedmasters, Epcos, and D&Ds. I've also heard the Thunderbikes and both Bubs.
There were a few different versions of the off-roads as far as sound levels go. My Speedmaters were not much louder than stock, but IIRC around the time our bikes first came out back in 02 and 03, we had about 3 variations of loudness with off-roads floating around the old forum.
My personal taste is a middle of the road sound. I like the punched out baffles sound of my Stock Speedmaster pipes, but I'd like them to be lighter and shorter...about even with the axle. The D&Ds look good, but after riding for about 30 miles yesterday, I wish they were a bit more muffled. I might try some fiberglass.
A few years back I put my bike into a loud pipes contest at a local bike night when I had the Epcos just to see what kind of decibel level they put out. They used a digital sound pressure level meter from Rat Shack and they used it straight back from the bike about 20-25 ft. Yeah, it was a less than scientific test. My bike put out 110 dbs, and drag pipe Harley Big Twins were 125. A friend had a 1200 Sportster with short drag pipes and it was only 1 or 2 decibels less than the Big Twins.
